Louisiana Governors During World War II Sam Jones, Jimmie Davis, Earl Long, Robert Kennon
Jun 29, 2015
Louisiana Governors
During World War II
Sam Jones, Jimmie Davis, Earl Long, Robert Kennon
Sam Jones
• Governor 1940-1944
• In the military during World War II
• Jones started a civil service for state workers – this meant that state workers did not have to be a supporter of the governor to keep their job
Sam Jones
• Jones required bids for projects (companies had to compete to work on projects by offering the best proposal)
• State departments operated in a more businesslike manner
• Sam Jones grew up in Deridder and practiced law in Lake Charles. He also served as assistant district attorney for Calcasieu Parish
Jimmie Davis
• Governor 1944-1948; 1960-1964
• Was the son of a sharecropper
• Served on the Public Service Commission
• Davis was an entertainer; he also wrote the song “You Are My Sunshine”
Earl Long
• Governor 1939-1940; 1948-1952; 1956-1960
• Was the brother of Huey Long
• Served as lieutenant governor under Governor Leche; became governor after Leche resigned
• Long had a farm that he called his “pea patch”
Earl Long
• Long increased sales taxes
• Long increased pay for black teachers and increased the number of black voters
• Long ended the civil service system that Sam Jones had started. Earl wanted to handle business like his brother Huey – being able to choose who could work for the state himself
• Long was elected to the Congress in , but died a few days after the election
Robert Kennon
• Governor 1952-1956
• Ran government by the rules
• Restored the civil service system that Earl Long had ended
• Brought reform to the prison system
• Made it harder to raise taxes
Robert Kennon
• Fought illegal gambling
• Introduced voting machines in the state
• Before becoming governor, he was once the youngest mayor in the United States
Follow the link below to your study set
Quizlet – Louisiana Governors